European Parliament Calls on Turkey to End Public Advertising Ban on Daily Evrensel

* Photo: IPI

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10 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have addressed a letter to Press Advertisement Institution (BİK) Director General Rıdvan Duran, requesting the removal of indefinite public ad ban on daily Evrensel.

Referring to the public ad embargo on Evrensel in effect since September 2019, 10 MEPs, including former European Parliament Rapporteur on Turkey Kati Piri, have noted, "For media pluralism in Turkey to grow, it is important that publications like Evrensel retain the economic means to survive and continue to contribute to a rich and vibrant media in Turkey."

'It will weaken diversity, pluralism of media'

The MEPs have addressed the following letter to BİK Director General:

"Dear Mr. Duran,

We, undersigned Members of the European Parliament who follow developments related to press freedom in Turkey closely, are writing to express our concerns regarding the indefinite ban on public advertising against the independent newspaper, Evrensel.

Media freedom and pluralism in Turkey are important to the European Union. Both are pillars of democracy as they represent essential components of open and free debate. The role of Basin Ilan Kurumu, BIK, in overseeing the distribution of public sector advertising budgets evenly and fairly across the newspaper sector, is of great importance in this respect.

However, since September 2019, Evrensel has been subjected to an indefinite advertising ban. If the ban remains in place for a full six months, until March 28, 2020, Evrensel faces being removed from the public advertising system for at least three years.

Such a decision would have a devastating impact on the finances of the newspaper, threatening its closure and weakening the diversity and pluralism of Turkey's newspaper market.

Evrensel is judged to have breached technical regulations with respect to bulk purchases. Evrensel has since made the changes requested of it but has twice had their appeals refused after new audits conducted by BIK.

Evrensel is known for its independent reporting and has, in recent years, been subjected to considerable judicial harassment as a result. The indefinite ban by BIK together with a series of limited bans for alleged 'violations of press ethics' give the impression of a coordinated campaign against the newspaper as punishment for its editorial independence.

We urge you therefore to swiftly lift the ban on Evrensel prior to the end of the six month deadline.

For media pluralism in Turkey to grow, it is important that publications like Evrensel retain the economic means to survive and continue to contribute to a rich and vibrant media in Turkey.

Best regards"

Evrensel can be excluded from the system for 3 years

The public ad ban imposed by the BİK on daily Evrensel for six months ends on March 28. If this ban is not withdrawn until March 28, Evrensel will be excluded from the system for a minimum of 3 years and will be categorized as a newspaper not receiving public ads.

A delegation of representatives from the IPI, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) met BİK Director General Rıdvan Duran on February 6, 2020.

The delegation expressed their demands for the lifting of public ad bans on several newspapers, including Evrensel, BirGün and Cumhuriyet.

Sharing a message on its Twitter account, the IPI has announced that the ban on daily BirGün was lifted on February 25. (HA/SD)